Abstract: UPDATED with new support bracket details. The Noctua NH-C14 is a big heatsink for sure, but remarkably by orienting the fans and aluminum fin stack in a top-down direction, Noctua keep the heatsinks' height to just 130mm. That's a far cry more compact than your typical 160mm tall tower heatsink, but that hasn't made the NH-C14 into a slouch.

*Heatsinks are ranked according to the 150W thermal
test results column (rise over ambient temp.). Low temperatures with low
noise levels are considered best. For reference heatsinks with
variable-speed fans, only the high speed (12V) fan test result is included
in the comparison sheet; more detailed results reside in each specific
heatsink review.

The heat output from Intel processors
varies, so Frostytech tests heatsinks with two thermal loads that represent the
upper limits of existing CPU families.

With a
150W heat load applied by the Intel LGA775/1156 version of FrostyTech's
synthetic thermal test platform, the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink maintains an
excellent result of 14.1°C over ambient with both its 140mm fans operating at
full speed (1200RPM, 46.6dBA noise).

After
both the NF-P14 fans were reduced to a speed of 750RPM, the test was run again
while heat load was maintained at 150W. In this scenario noise output decreased
to 35.1dBA while CPU die temperature only increased to 17.4°C over ambient!

Noctua's
NH-C14 heatsink was then tested on the Frostytech Mrk.II synthetic thermal test
platform with an 85W heat load; akin to an Intel Core 2 Duo or Core i5
processor. The integrated heatspreader of a Core i5 CPU is the same size as that
of a LGA775 CPU, so the 85W results can be considered indicative of LGA1156
heatsink performance as well.

In the
85W heat load test the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink had no difficulties maintaining
test temperatures at an extremely low 8.9°C over ambient with both fans
operating at full speed and 10.8°C over ambient with both fans operating at
750RPM. Excellent performance cooling for just 35.1dBA noise output when the
fans are spinning at 750RPM.

As
Frostytech saw with the similiarly paced Noctual NH-D14 heatsink, the Noctua NH-C14
is a big performance cooler that offers excellent cooling for thermal loads up to 150W with
relatively little noise output.

If your
computer can accommodate the large size of this heatsink (with both fans, or
one), you'll be pleased with it. The attention to build quality, the ease of
installation, the effort to reduce vibration and noises; it's all there in this
well designed thermal solution that offers up excellent thermal performance.

Incidently, during testing we did notice that the body of
the NH-C14 oscillated somewhat from the combined vibrations of the two fans,
(mostly just the top fan). The cantilever body design no doubt amplified
slightly unbalanced fan impellers. UPDATE: Noctua have
released a metal support bar to provide additional stability to the upper half
of the heatsink. The bar is fixed to the base and supports the fan against
rubberized metal frame (see 1st page).

Bottom
line though, the Noctua NH-C14 heatsink is an excellent lower noise cooler for
both Intel/AMD platforms if your PC can accommodate its large footprint. Highly
recommended.

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